CHICAGO | On this day Particular, Carey Pinkowski stands about as tall as the 110-story Tower Willis.
OK, the Sears Tower For those of you WHO hate change.
Distance Runners World-wide love this guy, do as Mayor Richard Daley and City Officials. Pinkowski IS the Chicago Marathon and has since Been Taking over as executive race director in 1990.
Today's 33rd annual race has 45.000 the registered runners representing 106 countries and all 50 states. Many of the world's elite marathoners are in Chicago for this spectacle.
For Them Thurs gladly return Each year shows a great Respect for Pinkowski, the four-time state cross country and track champion from Hammond High and a former distance star at Villanova.
Registration Began Feb. 1 and takeing the cutoff 45.000 in just 50 days. Another figure 5.000 stragglers will join in DURING the 26.2-mile trek.
Pinkowski is quick to say that they Could not pull this off without the 12.000 volunteers, 800 medical personnel, 200 security personnel, 400, course marshals and 225 massage Therapists.
Add an Estimated 1.7 Million Spectators and you see why this event shuts down the city for hours.
There are More Than 150 'charity' teams stretching Their legs this morning, all for a good cause. Last year, $ 10.1 Million was raised, upping the total Thurs an impressive $ 57 Million since 2002.
But what really put a smile is Daley's face is the $ 150 Million Economic Impact The marathon had occurred Thurs Greater Chicago in 2009.
"Last year, 8.000 of our runners ran for 124 Different Charities That were Middle East, Africa. This year, we have over 10.000 runners," Pinkowski said. "Hopefully, we'll Exceed $ 11 Million." We keep pushing along. "
Nearly 33 Percent of Today's participants are first-time marathon runners, But what excites Pinkowski was his most elite field, a marvelous who's-who of distance legends.
"It's gonna be exciting to see Those guys. They're all in the front end of Their careers. They're gonna go super fast," said Pinkowski HAD EARLIER.
Included are the Boston champion Robert Cheruiyot and Chicago Defending champ Sammy Wanjiru, the WHO won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
"We've got this young, aggressive group of guys who've won big-time marathons and they're all gonna square off in Chicago. That's gonna be" some fun stuff, "Pinkowski added.
On the female side, Defending champion Liliya Shobukhova of Russia and runnerup Irina Mikitenko of Germany joined Another loaded field of young, Promising Talent.
Chicago's Their kind of town, too.
Daley named a street after Pinkowski in 2009. At this rate, Should they throw in a park or two.
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